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Monkey and I, taking names and doing selfies…
Draft Two of In a Corner, Darkly: Volume #3 is underway. Like my two other books of short stories, this will have fifteen tales that can easily fall into the realms of horror/thriller/sci-fi-ish/apocalyptic. There should be a story or two (or more!) that readers will find groovy – that’s the plan, anyway. I’ve finished two stories so far and will be heading into story #3 tomorrow. If I HAD to guess, I would say that I should be finished with Draft Two by the middle/end of April. As per usual, I’ll set it aside for about 4 weeks and then jump back into Draft #3.
It’s good to be working on something again. After crushing out an entire novel though (looking at you, Sanctum, my latest one), I HAVE to step away from it for a little while. I don’t know how some people can write two (or more) books at one time. I just don’t have the mindset nor the patience for it. (lol)
THIS SUNDAY is the first event of the year! It’s the St. Pat’s Market at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds on Sunday, March 17th. It runs from 9am to 3pm. It will be my first time here, so once again, I’m nervous and excited.
After this one, I’ve got three (almost in a row) in May! (check the Events section of the blog for more details) I wasn’t necessarily looking to cram them all in during an eight day jaunt, but the timing just worked out that way. All three will be new (to me), so I felt the need to jump in and go for it. (Route 66 – Red Carpet @ Polka Dot Drive In on May 4///// Flossmoor Public Library Author Fair on Thursday, May 9///// TAiLS Bookworm Fair in Pekin on Saturday, May 11)
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that there are a LOT of scammers out there who are posting “events” and taking people’s money on FB. There are many groups that vendors/writers can join to learn about festivals/fairs/etc, but if you do go in search of things, please be aware. Look up the venue, check out the person posting, scroll down and see if anyone else noticed something fishy about a certain post. I try my best to make sure I don’t fall prey to scammers, but it can happen to anyone. So far, I’ve been lucky. Others have not.
And yeah…I have a birthday coming up. I personally like to celebrate all month đ (birthday month!) It’s a big one (they’re all big, but this one is REALLY huge), but I don’t look at it as ‘ug, I’m getting old…’ It’s more like a new found freedom of seeing a bigger picture. Still, there will be cake – white or yellow cake with frosting. That will always and forever remain a given on March 27th. đ
So, what the heck have we been watching?
Dream Scenario (2023) – A family man finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. However, when his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, he’s forced to navigate the consequences of his newfound stardom (Google) Usually, when a movie stars Nick Cage, you can pretty much predict that it’s going to be either off-the-wall or played at “an 11” for most of the running time. This is a welcome change from the intensely crazy spiral that is named Nick Cage. You will have to suspend belief for this one, but it’s solid and interesting enough for the follow through. It’s a thought-provoking look at what fame can do, how it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, and what you wish for might not REALLY be what you want. Ignore the critics and watch this one. I gave it an 8.2 and Charlie came in at 8.1.
Locked In (2023)– Unhappy newlywed Lina is against her rich, coldhearted mother-in-law, Katherine. An affair sets off a chain reaction that will result in a love triangle, a murder and a plot to bring Lina down. (Google) Having had not one, but TWO dreadful mother-in-laws (mothers-in-law?) in my lifetime (not current ones, mind you), I was on board to see where this one went. It’s a bit of a puzzle and you have to really pay close attention to all the minor details here, but it’s pretty good overall. It’s not quite horror and it’s not quite a crime thriller. I don’t know exactly in what genre I’d classify this movie, but it should keep you guessing. I ended up with a 6.8 and Charlie liked it more, sliding in at 7.4. Recommend, but stay alert for the twisty-turnies.
The Passenger (2023) – Randy is perfectly content to fade into the background, but when one of his co-workers goes on a sudden and violent rampage, he must face his fears and confront his troubled past to survive. (Google) By reading the little blurb, you might think you know where this is going, but trust me, you don’t. It’s a pretty taut tale from beginning to end with some very believable characters. Who’s good and who’s bad? It’s a microscopic look at what makes people do the things they do…and begs the question “is it too late to change things?” Strong recommend on all account here.
MOB Land (2023) – In a small town struggling with addiction, a local sheriff tries to maintain the peace when desperate family man Shelby robs a pill mill. The supposedly easy score takes a violent turn, alerting the New Orleans mafia’s revenge-seeking enforcer. (Google) Sorry, but John Travolta is miscast here. He can be amazing if given the right script, but this one is a little too ‘eyerolly’ and ‘overdone’. Felt like he was phoning it in. It’s a bit predictable and redundant. If you’re looking for car chases and shootouts though, you might have some evening entertainment here. I’m not going to recommend this, but I wouldn’t warn you against it either. I gave it a weak 5.5.
Okay, that’s a wrap. I’ll probably drop another Bloggy Update before the month is over. đ
Sue Rovens 